Political parties work towards peace

Supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and their New Patriotic Party (NPP) counterparts took part in the friendly match held at the Gbulung Junior High School.

The match was organised by Right To Play, a child centered Non Governmental Organisation that uses sports and games to teach real life situations and also promote health, education and peace with support from community members and the leadership of the various political parties.

Speaking during the event, the NPP Secretary for the Kumbungu Constituency, Mr Abdul-Sallam Hamza Fatau explained to the people that the election petition was a way of seeking justice in a peaceful and democratic manner which had been lauded by both petitioners and respondents.

He said the outcome of the verdict must therefore be accepted by all whether it favoured ones party or not.

He particularly reminded the youth that any destruction or violence started by any of them after the verdict would be tantamount to destroying their own future and survival.

'You might be a strong supporter of NDC or NPP in Gbulung here but no constituency, regional or national executive may know about you and if you therefore get up here and do anything harmful to yourself in the name of party politics, you may end up bearing the pain of that harm alone without any support from your party leadership', he cautioned.

The Kumbungu Constituency NDC Youth Organiser, Mr Abu Amadu, commended members of the Gbulung community for their exemplary lifestyle and behaviour and asked the rest of Dagbon to emulate them.

He reminded the community members that Gbulung was the only community they could call their home ' and if you destroy it in the name of party politics, know that you are destroying your own identity'.

The Projects Co-ordinator of Right to Play, Mr Kakra Ankobiah reminded them that in times of war party relations did not matter.

'Members of your own party may be the first to suffer the bullets shot by their co-party members and it is important that we all realise this and comport ourselves after the court's verdict', he said.

A representative of the Chief of Gbulung, Gbulunlana Sulemana Abu expressed the chief's gratitude to Right To Play for helping to inculcate the sense of tolerance and peaceful co-habitation among his subjects.

He said the chief had always appealed to the youth to be mindful of their actions and remain peaceful and gave the assurance that no resident of Gbulung would do anything untoward after the court's verdict.

By Marcelinus Dery / The Mirror / Ghana